Reviews

In the Darkroom by Susan Faludi

natesea's review against another edition

4.0

This is an incredible tale of identity - personal, cultural, and national. Susan Faludi gives us an amazing history of Hungary, the horrifying details of its Nazi destruction, and her father's survival. All of this is in the context of understanding his change in gender late in life. I was expecting a family tale of gender reassignment, but Faludi tells a rich history of all that informs it, and the political realities that continue the threat of oppression.

__karen__'s review against another edition

5.0

I didn't expect to like In the Darkroom. However, I found it very interesting in how it blended the story of a daughter and father, WWII and Hungarian history, and the father's transgender transition.

eemolu's review against another edition

3.0

for my writing seminar- honestly, the beginning was promising and then it all went downhill from there. the connections faludi made were tenuous, and she ignored some connections that could've been so strong!! my main beef is the missed connection surrounding amputation of self, of place, and the literal amputation that was present in dreams, in history, and in real life. why was that not addressed. also, there were a lot of questions that were asked and never answered, or that seemed rhetorical (which is a literary move i'm not particularly fond of). i also don't know why erik erikson was considered practically gospel. it was confusing.

cool book though. good ideas. nice photographs.

rhiannonrpage's review against another edition

I’m not really sure what to rate this so it remains unrated… I also must admit I seriously skimmed the last 100 pages and could not tell you much about it (this was for a class) still a very interesting but hard read

rebecca1's review against another edition

4.0

I am definitely having an emotional connection to this book as a feminist with Jewish heritage, and it has broadened my horizons by teaching me about Hungary. I find the sections on the author’s father fascinating, but the book lags for me in the Hungarian history sections. It’s been one to persevere with, but I wish it was an easier read!

thefictionalbliss's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective tense medium-paced

5.0

idogrocker's review against another edition

dark emotional informative reflective sad medium-paced

jar7709's review against another edition

4.0

Wow, Stefanie Faludi. What a life. A complicated person, slowly and reluctantly revealed to the author. Stefanie (first Istvan, then Steven) came of age Jewish in Nazi-occupied Budapest, survived and saved and hid, later moved to South America and then the USA, where she started a family and had daughter Susan. I'd never read any Susan Faludi before, just had a vague awareness of her as a feminist writer, but based on this masterful book I will be looking for more. Susan and Steven had a difficult relationship and a long estrangement, lasting most of Susan's life, until she received an out-of-the-blue email from her father announcing her sex-change operation and transition to female. I can't write much here that isn't better summarized by other reviewers, but holy wow. Fascinating read.

nathuffman97's review against another edition

4.0

A really insightful book that covers a vast span of areas. Faludi's writing is perceptive and breathtakingly honest. A astounding look into a complex and enigmatic life that encapsulates history writ both large and small.

stephaniejnl's review against another edition

5.0

This book touches on so many topics: troubled parent-child relationships, transsexuality, antisemitism, xenophobia, homophobia, the history of Hungary (it's national identity - or lack thereof, world war 2, the recent rise of extreme right) and the quest to find what identity means and what defines it.
All woven into a beautifully and heartfelt story about a daughters search for who her father really was.